June 16, 2026 - Great Falls, Montana

 Yesterday Ted, Sheila, Sooz and I rode from Canmore to Calgary.  Ted and Sheila turned in their rental motorcycle and got a room for the night.  They flew back to Florida today.  It sounds like everything went well on their return.

After getting a new rear tire in Calgary yesterday, Sooz and I went to lunch at French 50 Bakery a really neat place in Okotoks, which is 30 miles south of Calgary.  We then checked into our hotel and took a nap.  Later, Abigail, the daughter and David Barth a close friend of ours who passed away 4 years ago, picked us up and took us to her place in Okotoks.  She lives there with her daughter Calluna and partner Steph.  They went out of their way to cook us steaks on the grill, fetuccini alfredo and a salad.  It was a really nice visit, and Calluna stole my heart.  

Today, Sooz and I rode 290 miles from Okotoks, crossed into the US and landed in Great Falls, MT.  The border crossing was a breeze, we just showed our passports, answered a couple of questions and moved on.  The agent didn't even make us take off our helmets.  

Temperatures reached the mid 80s today and was VERY windy.  The speed limit on I-15 in Montana is 80 mph and it was so windy I slowed to 50 mph at times.  Luckily there was very little traffic.

Calluna had me wrapped around her little finger by the time we left.  She was a lot of fun.

This was the first place to get gas after crossing into the US.  Sooz said it could have been out of a zombie movie.

Border zombie town

We took a break from the wind in Brady, MT, another dusty quaint little town.

The GS waiting to leave Brady and get back on I-15 South to Great Falls.

The shop we had the rear tire changed was Barnes Powersports Blackfoot.  The shop is massive and carries Japanese as well as European brands.  I had called ahead and they were able to get on it a little early which I appreciated.  I asked if I could give them a tip for getting to it early, and the lady said they prefer Tim Horton's dougnuts, which was located next door.  So I got them a dozen dougnuts and a couple of apple fritters for Sooz and me.